The Reljac Files

Dad was assigned to the Ordinance Division of the Army stationed in Texas and did not like it.  He was taken to an area with great quantities of barrels of gun parts and told to make complete guns.  When that job was done he was taken to another area with same procedures for larger guns.  Eventually, he was working on huge anti-aircraft guns that weighed tons and were bigger than his living room.  One day they were in the field; the lynch pin on a gun wasn’t working properly and the gun would not return to firing position.  He was called over and told to crawl under the gun (remember this gun weighed tons) where there was an aluminum platform to lay on.  He had a welding torch with a 6 foot flame and was to cut the lynch pin, freeing it so the gun could return to firing position.  He had on a mask and eye protection but as he started to cut the pin, pieces of burning metal fell on his face between the mask and glasses burning his face.  He started yelling and the guys pulled him out.  He could not be taken care of where he was, so he was taken to Brookings (?) Hospital in San Antonio, 385 miles away.  He was there for 2 and 1/2 months.  He was constantly treated with some kind of cream based salve on his face and told he could have some scarring and may want to grow a beard and mustache to cover it. (Apparently this was the beginning of his love for nurses!)  Then, with a smile on his face he said the only damage was a section of skin under his nose wouldn’t grow any hair.  That lasted for 2 years and he said he was go glad he didn’t go home until he had fully recovered because he didn’t want to have to explain his injury to his parents!  He asked for and was given a transfer to another division.